Sydney: Three model raptors at Australia's National Dinosaur Museum have been beheaded by mystery vandals who scaled a fence and removed the parts using an angle grinder or hacksaw, the Australian Capital Territory police said today.
Investigators are hunting for the attackers after the damage to the dinosaurs, which were in an outside display area, took place late Saturday at the museum in Canberra, the police said.
"The damage sustained to the (three velociraptor) dinosaurs indicate that an angle grinder or hacksaw was used to remove the heads from the body," they said.
"The offenders had climbed a four-foot fence to gain entry."
Museum staffer Mitchell Seymour said the damaged dinosaurs were first spotted by visitors, with children puzzled at what happened.
"We went out to check it out and three of our dinosaurs here have been decapitated," Mr Seymour told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"We had heaps of kids coming up and going 'oh mum and dad, what's wrong with the dinosaurs?'
"It's selfish, and it's thoughtless is what it is."
A giant fibreglass dinosaur was stolen from the museum in 2013 and later found in the home of a man who said it was taken as a birthday prank, ABC reported.
Investigators are hunting for the attackers after the damage to the dinosaurs, which were in an outside display area, took place late Saturday at the museum in Canberra, the police said.
"The damage sustained to the (three velociraptor) dinosaurs indicate that an angle grinder or hacksaw was used to remove the heads from the body," they said.
Museum staffer Mitchell Seymour said the damaged dinosaurs were first spotted by visitors, with children puzzled at what happened.
Advertisement
"We had heaps of kids coming up and going 'oh mum and dad, what's wrong with the dinosaurs?'
"It's selfish, and it's thoughtless is what it is."
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Watch: Man 3D-Prints Dinosaur for Daughter, Then Brings It to Life With AR New 'Land And Sea' Velociraptor-Like Dinosaur Discovered Meet The Welsh Dinosaur Scientists Have Dubbed The 'Dragon Robber' Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms "Relocate To Vizag": Andhra Minister To IT Firms Amid Karnataka Quota Row UP BJP Rejig Soon? State Chief Offers To Quit Over Poll Drubbing: Sources Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms "Animal Cruelty": Abu Dhabi's First Owl Cafe Goes Viral, Internet Angry Madras High Court's Big Rebuke To Probe Agency In Illegal Sand Mining Row Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.